[March 17, 2018](Reuters) - Japan's Naomi Osaka
made short work of a subdued world number one Simona Halep on
Friday, the unseeded 20-year-old racing to a 6-3 6-0 semi-final
victory to set up a surprise BNP Paribas Open final against Daria
Kasatkina.

The Russian, also 20, continued her sparkling run of form earlier in
the evening when she outlasted American veteran Venus Williams in a
three-set slugfest lasting almost three hours.

Osaka's defeat of the top-seeded Halep stood out as the bigger of
the two upsets, which played out under the lights on a chilly night
in the California desert city of Indian Wells.

The Romanian had won all three of her previous meetings with the
emerging Japanese player and looked poised to make a run to reclaim
the title she won in 2015, but instead put in a puzzling performance
full of uncharacteristic errors and little fight.

The match started as a cagey affair until it reached 3-3 in the
opening set before Halep's game unraveled as she coughed up a litany
of errors, paving the way for Osaka to reel off the next nine games
without much resistance.

"It wasn't easy," Osaka said in a courtside interview. "I was really
stressed out the entire time but I am really happy I could end it
fast."

Halep offered few excuses for her baffling display but felt that the
long wait to get on court had not helped her cause.

"I just didn't feel the ball at all. I was out of the game today. I
played okay until 4-3 but then I just went out. I don't know why. I
just lost my concentration," she said.

"She was better. She was more prepared and she was ready to play and
ready to win the match. I was not."

KASATKINA OUTLASTS VENUS

While Osaka barely broke a sweat in her 64 minute victory, it was a
different story for Kasatkina, who emerged the victor after a
marathon 4-6 6-4 7-5 battle against Williams.

Kasatkina took advantage of a sub-par serving night from the more
powerful Williams as the match progressed, forcing long rallies that
ultimately wore her 37-year-old opponent down over the course of the
contest.

Simona Halep (ROU) during her semifinal against Naomi Osaka (not
pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Russian, who fought back after being two points away from losing
in the contest in the third set, dropped her racquet and put her
hands on her head in shock after Williams sent a backhand into the
net on match point.

"I'm a bit tired," Kasatkina said after the two hour and 50 minute
encounter. "One more to go."

The win extends the Cinderella run for the tournament's 20th seed,
who defeated grand slam champions Sloane Stephens, Caroline
Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber without dropping a set before going
the distance to take down Williams.

Williams played an excellent all-around game, mixing bruising
groundstrokes with frequent approaches to the net and moving well
around the court.

However, she was unable to rely on her big serve at key moments and
ended up getting broken seven times.

Kasatkina will have Saturday to recover before facing Osaka for the
first time in their fledgling careers on Sunday.

Neither Kasatkina nor Osaka have much experience in big matches with
the Japanese player's only career final coming in Tokyo in 2016 and
her opponent's lone singles title coming in Charleston last year.